Round Lake public access boat launch topic of Rollin Twp. meeting

How to make a public access boat launch off Round Lake Highway more accessible was a topic of discussion Wednesday at the Rollin Township Board of Trustees meeting.

Township trustee Bruce Walker, who is helping with plans for the proposed improvement project, said the 50-foot-wide lot — the only public launch spot on Round Lake — has approximately 121⁄2 feet of “good launch space” at the lakeshore. Board members said the lot is not wide enough to accommodate the amount of traffic on busy weekends. Vehicles are sometimes observed lined up as long as 15 or 20 minutes to use the launch.

Last month, the board approved a motion to proceed with an improvement project for the boat launch property and seek bids.

A joint letter from nearby property owners Richard Alkema and Mark Wenn was read at the meeting. They asked that other potential launch sites around the lake be explored.

During the discussion, township officials suggested a blue spruce along the property edge — as well as some large rocks — are in the way of making the lot more user-friendly.

Alkema, who said he has lived at the lake for more than 70 of his 85 years, said at the meeting he would be sickened if the spruce or other trees near the lot were removed.

“I see no reason to take any trees out,” Alkema said. “Many of those rocks my dad put there.”

The matter will be discussed further at future township meetings.

In other businessThe Rollin Township Board on Wednesday also:

— Approved a salary resolution for 2013-14. The salaries of the elected officials, with the exception of the treasurer and deputy treasurer, remained the same. Those positions will receive a $300 per year increase.

— Approved a request from the Land and Lake Ladies Club to have the annual farmers market event in the township hall parking lot from 8 a.m. to noon every Saturday from the Memorial Day through Labor Day weekends.